IN YOUR OPINION

Letters to the editor for March 28, 2013

Published: Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 9:43 p.m.

Don’t ban Internet cafes

Banning the Internet cafes will take away many hours of entertainment for senior citizens. They enjoy meeting new friends and socializing, along with a free meal, snacks and beverages that are offered to them. Internet cafes give senior citizens something to do, a place to go. One rotten apple spoils the barrel. Internet cafes should be regulated, not banned.

Maryann Rohde

Ocala

Floridians lose out on health care

My question is why none of the press published this very important loss of benefits to Florida residents? Effective Feb. 16, no Florida resident is eligible to participate in the pre-existing conditions benefits afforded by the Affordable Care Act because the State of Florida turned down the $321 million that was allocated to the the state to establish their Pre-Existing Condition program and elected not to do so.

Evidently the $321 million has been redeposited in the PCIP, The Affordable Care Act’s pre-existing condition program, and will be used to fund the programs that were established by those states that established a program as part of the ACA.

Joe Flynn

The Villages

Letters don’t reflect who we really are

As a “snow bird” resident of Ocala, I wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Riley’s “Angry over the anger.”

I ask myself daily, why are there so many ‘mentally small people’ in the Ocala area who want their prehistoric and acrimonious comments to appear in our newspaper? Where did we go wrong as a nation to outwardly ‘hate’ a black man who has been elected by the majority of the people in our country to be the President of the United States of America?

As a senior officer who served 27 years and was honorably retired from the U.S. Army, I really find it hard to believe that I chose my ‘winter retreat’ in a city that potentially has so many bigoted and narrow-minded people. One military retiree in our city wrote that he would not salute nor shake the hand of this Commander-in-Chief. To you sir: Give back your retired pay as you have violated the trust (to serve and honor the office not the person) placed in you by our nation. Most letters that I read about our president hide an abiding premise of hatred for him simply because he is black. Why not say that up front and then get on with your trite comments? I am totally confused by the letters that ask about the status of our country. Our country has not been anywhere; why then so many comments about getting it back?

Please let me and my family continue to enjoy our fair city and be able to read letters to the editor that really want to find solutions to our many pressing issues. Thank you Ms. Riley for making such a strong statement. As a 70-year-old educated, married black man, I stand at attention and salute you for your courage and your zeal to acknowledge the absolute fact that all of us are not “ignorant, a mindless follower and stupid” like those who constantly exhibit their hate for this President of the United States.

Gorham L. Black, III

Ocala

Easter blessing

As the North slowly melts away the snow and show signs of spring, we here in Central Florida have already seen a harvest of spring fruits and vegetables

We are also so blessed to have so many wonderful residents who are dedicated to helping those less fortunate. Share the Harvest is a program where excess fruits and vegetables are donated to soup kitchens and food pantries. We are grateful to so many residents of Marion County who belong to this program. Your donations not only to St. Theresa but other food banks have been a major blessing. Fresh produce is a rare commodity.

St. Theresa’s Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry wishes to thank you for the fresh produce we have received so far this spring. This Easter Sunday we are reminded of God’s promise of renew, refresh and the rebirth of the earth each spring. We also strive to renew God’s spirit as well. May the blessings of Easter remain with us throughout the year, and thank you, Marion County for your continued support.

Jimmy Johnson

Director of Social Services,

St Theresa Catholic Church

Internet cafe ban squashes jobs

The Florida House of Representatives in all their infinite wisdom voted to ban Internet cafes. Had all these representatives been doing their job two years ago and paid more attention to doing their sworn duty they would have regulated and taxed these businesses. Generating revenue for the state. Now they rush to judgment because they are scared to death details will come out about campaign contributions from Allied Veterans.

The lack of responsibility they showed is the reason Allied was able to dupe them in the first place and every man and women who honored us with their sacrifice to this country.

To try and save their bacon they choose to put thousands of people out of work and business owners out of business who followed the rules of the state of Florida as they now stand. A Republican House squashing jobs, how refreshing. Denying seniors a small pleasure, perhaps they are more comfortable with having citizens playing the lottery with all proceeds going to the state so they can spend on their pet projects. Hey, the odds are only 13 million-to-1. I think I would rather get something for my buck, phone or Internet time instead of a useless ticket that litters parking lots and streets.

<p><b>Don't ban Internet cafes</b></p><p>Banning the Internet cafes will take away many hours of entertainment for senior citizens. They enjoy meeting new friends and socializing, along with a free meal, snacks and beverages that are offered to them. Internet cafes give senior citizens something to do, a place to go. One rotten apple spoils the barrel. Internet cafes should be regulated, not banned.</p><p><i>Maryann Rohde</p><p>Ocala</i></p><p> </p><p><b>Floridians lose out on health care</b></p><p>My question is why none of the press published this very important loss of benefits to Florida residents? Effective Feb. 16, no Florida resident is eligible to participate in the pre-existing conditions benefits afforded by the Affordable Care Act because the State of Florida turned down the $321 million that was allocated to the the state to establish their Pre-Existing Condition program and elected not to do so.</p><p>Evidently the $321 million has been redeposited in the PCIP, The Affordable Care Act's pre-existing condition program, and will be used to fund the programs that were established by those states that established a program as part of the ACA.</p><p><i>Joe Flynn</p><p>The Villages</i></p><p> </p><p><b>Letters don't reflect who we really are</b></p><p>As a “snow bird” resident of Ocala, I wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Riley's “Angry over the anger.”</p><p>I ask myself daily, why are there so many 'mentally small people' in the Ocala area who want their prehistoric and acrimonious comments to appear in our newspaper? Where did we go wrong as a nation to outwardly 'hate' a black man who has been elected by the majority of the people in our country to be the President of the United States of America?</p><p>As a senior officer who served 27 years and was honorably retired from the U.S. Army, I really find it hard to believe that I chose my 'winter retreat' in a city that potentially has so many bigoted and narrow-minded people. One military retiree in our city wrote that he would not salute nor shake the hand of this Commander-in-Chief. To you sir: Give back your retired pay as you have violated the trust (to serve and honor the office not the person) placed in you by our nation. Most letters that I read about our president hide an abiding premise of hatred for him simply because he is black. Why not say that up front and then get on with your trite comments? I am totally confused by the letters that ask about the status of our country. Our country has not been anywhere; why then so many comments about getting it back?</p><p>Please let me and my family continue to enjoy our fair city and be able to read letters to the editor that really want to find solutions to our many pressing issues. Thank you Ms. Riley for making such a strong statement. As a 70-year-old educated, married black man, I stand at attention and salute you for your courage and your zeal to acknowledge the absolute fact that all of us are not “ignorant, a mindless follower and stupid” like those who constantly exhibit their hate for this President of the United States.</p><p><i>Gorham L. Black, III</p><p>Ocala</i></p><p> </p><p><b>Easter blessing</b></p><p>As the North slowly melts away the snow and show signs of spring, we here in Central Florida have already seen a harvest of spring fruits and vegetables</p><p>We are also so blessed to have so many wonderful residents who are dedicated to helping those less fortunate. Share the Harvest is a program where excess fruits and vegetables are donated to soup kitchens and food pantries. We are grateful to so many residents of Marion County who belong to this program. Your donations not only to St. Theresa but other food banks have been a major blessing. Fresh produce is a rare commodity.</p><p>St. Theresa's Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry wishes to thank you for the fresh produce we have received so far this spring. This Easter Sunday we are reminded of God's promise of renew, refresh and the rebirth of the earth each spring. We also strive to renew God's spirit as well. May the blessings of Easter remain with us throughout the year, and thank you, Marion County for your continued support.</p><p><i>Jimmy Johnson</p><p>Director of Social Services,</p><p>St Theresa Catholic Church</i></p><p> </p><p><b>Internet cafe ban squashes jobs</b></p><p>The Florida House of Representatives in all their infinite wisdom voted to ban Internet cafes. Had all these representatives been doing their job two years ago and paid more attention to doing their sworn duty they would have regulated and taxed these businesses. Generating revenue for the state. Now they rush to judgment because they are scared to death details will come out about campaign contributions from Allied Veterans.</p><p>The lack of responsibility they showed is the reason Allied was able to dupe them in the first place and every man and women who honored us with their sacrifice to this country.</p><p>To try and save their bacon they choose to put thousands of people out of work and business owners out of business who followed the rules of the state of Florida as they now stand. A Republican House squashing jobs, how refreshing. Denying seniors a small pleasure, perhaps they are more comfortable with having citizens playing the lottery with all proceeds going to the state so they can spend on their pet projects. Hey, the odds are only 13 million-to-1. I think I would rather get something for my buck, phone or Internet time instead of a useless ticket that litters parking lots and streets.</p><p><i>Rick McKnight</p><p>Ocala</i></p>